german alps of upper bavaria | ©claudia hinz | click > enlarge
Swarovski Crystal Palace partners with Asif Khan on Parhelia, an experimental architecture installation to be unveiled at Design Miami 2012. The installation will be Swarovski’s seventh consecutive exhibition at Design Miami/, following installations by Ross Lovegrove, Greg Lynn, Troika, Fredrikson Stallard, Eyal Burstein, and Erwin Redl.
Keeping with his research-based approach to design, Khan collaborated with Manchester University, UK, to gain a further understanding of ice halos, where he and his team were able to create the world’s first indoor ice halo, much to the surprise of the University’s scientists.
Parhelia, meaning “Beside the Sun,” in Greek is an experiment of architecture and nature. Parhelia describes manifestations of light and halos, rare luminous rings which appear in the sky due to atmospheric ice crystals and low sun. Khan’s immersive installation will explore the relationship betweencrystal, light, architecture and nature, while recreating this optical phenomenon-inspired by the optical properties of the sky in the arctic and northern regions-in the geographically contrasting tropical climate of Miami Beach.
Khan’s design for Swarovski Crystal Palace will incorporate over 1.3 million Swarovski crystals in an architectural structure nearly 20 feet high. The piece will feature a dramatic façade featuring crystallized halos that will appear to follow visitors as they move through the exhibition space. Visitors will be invited to go inside the structure where they will see an infinitely reflected crystalline interior. A skylight within the structure will allow natural light to interact with Khan’s design, thereby creating a dynamic visual display that will change throughout the day and into the evening. Parhelia will not only allow visitors to explore the sensory influence of crystals but also their phototropic effect on humans.
“Parhelia is an experiment that begins at the crossroads of architecture and nature,” says Khan. “I was first inspired by the atmospheric and optical properties of the sky in northern latitudes and with the idea of transporting its light to a contrasting environment. This installation is about exploring the use of crystal as a medium to infuse architecture with light.”
This latest collaboration is another example of Swarovski Crystal Palace’s mission to support emerging talent from the fields of architecture, design, art, and technology. This year’s installation, with its focus on nature and naturally occurring forms, demonstrates the purest and most authentic expression of crystal.
event> parhelia: swarovski crystal palace and asif kahn
venue> meridian avenue & 19th street adjacent to the miami beach convention center
dates> 5 > 9 december 2012
[ asif khan ] is an award-winning British architecture office based in London. Most recently, Asif Khan completed the Coca-Cola Beatbox pavilion for the London 2012 Olympic Games. Recent clients and collaborators include; Coca-Cola, The Design Museum, Swarovski, Colette, Sawaya and Moroni, Paul Smith Ltd, Danese Milano, The Architecture Foundation, Idée, Design Miami/, the Royal Academy, the British Council and the Clinton-Hunter Development Initiative.
[ swarovski crystal palace ] now in its tenth year, an experimental design platform, has been a main sponsor of Design Miami/ since 2008 as part of its mission to promote talent in the worlds of art, architecture, design and technology, while redefining the use of crystal as a material for expression. The company has a rich history of working with internationally acclaimed designers including Coco Chanel, Yves Saint Laurent and Christian Dior.
